George Brewer

Level 116

Tony Beale on 11th December 2020

Old Bailey Online 105. GEORGE BREWER and MICHAEL DOYLE were indicted for feloniously making an assault, on the 27th of December , on the King's highway, upon Jeremiah Hargan , putting him in fear, and taking from his person, against his will, a watch, value 5l. a chain, value 6d. and a seal, value 2d. the property of the said Jeremiah.(The case was opened by Mr. Knapp.) JEREMIAH HARGAN sworn. - I am foreman to Mr. Millan, warehouseman , in Ironmonger-lane: On Sunday evening, the 27th of December, about seven o'clock, I was in Leman-street, Goodman's-fields , with Jeremiah Leary, who was much in liquor, I was as sober as I am now; near the bottom of the street we were met by a party of men, to the number of six or seven; Brewer was the first who came up to me, in company with another man, whom I do not know; they came on each side of me, hurted me, and struck me, and at the same time Doyle came in the front of me, and pulled the watch out of my pocket; when they struck me they swore, d - n your eyes what do you want, or something to that purpose; Doyle was dressed at that time in sailor's clothes, I never saw them before; I spread my arms, and pushed them off, ran into the Brown-Bear public-house, and told them what had happened; I was struck, both on my eyes and nose, my nose bled by the blow; I found nobody to assist me, and as I went out the prisoners were passing the door, in company with several more; I seized Brewer; I have not the least doubt he was the man who first came up to me; Doyle returned back with two or three more of the gang, crying out what is the matter; coming up to me he struck me across the ear, splirting it in two, and knocked the blood out of both my ears; they then directly set off. When I recovered myself, I followed, crying out stop thief, to Rosemary-lane, and to Salt-petre-bank, but was afraid to go any further, being a stranger. I have not the least doubt that Brewer was one, and that Doyle took my watch. I was perfectly sober, if I had not been so I could not have acted as I did. I have never had the things again. Cross-examined by Mr. Raine. Q. Was your comvanion drunk? - A. Yes; I had been drinking with him in a public-house about two minutes before, we had sixpennyworth of rum and water; I had been drinking some beer in a private house, but I drank no more than I thought would do me good, I cannot tell how much; I did not drink three quarts, nor two, but cannot tell how much; I only drank sufficient to quench my thirst, I was not drunk; there might be seven or eight pots among four or five in company. Q. You never saw either of the men before? - A. Not to my knowledge. Q. It was dark, was it not? - A. It was starlight enough for me to distinguish their faces; and there was a light from the public-house door. Q. The man who took your watch was in sailor's clothes? - A. Yes. Q. That is a common dress in that part of the town? - A. Yes. Mr. Knapp. Q. How long did the first scussle last? - A. Not two minutes; and the second not a minute. I have no doubt they are the persons with whom I had the two scussles. Court. Q. Is Leman-street lighted with lamps? - A. It was at the bottom, in the very darkest part; there was one lamp belonging to the sugar-house that gave a bad light; I trusted to the star-light, and the light of the public-house. SARAH CARTER sworn. - My husband keeps the Brown-Bear in Leman-street: On the 27th of December, the prosecutor came in, about seven o'clock, bleeding at his nose, and saying he had been robbed, and received the blows of some thieves at the door; he came in for assistance, but it being Sunday we had only two lodgers, an old man, and a middle aged man. Cross-examined by Mr. Raine. Q. Did he appear to be ill-used? - A. Yes; he appeared to be slurried, his nose was bleeding, and his eyes were growing black from the blows. See originalClick to see original Q. Did he not appear to be worse for liquor? - A. No; he seemed to be slurried. JOSEPH HAYNES sworn. - I am an officer belonging to Shadwell: I had information, and went to Salt-petre-bank, and on the Tuesday evening I apprehended Brewer in St. Catherine's-lane, I knew him well before; Doyle was in company with another man, I had an information against him at that time; I found on Brewer a black crape round his hat, he said, he was in mourning for his mother; and upon Doyle I found two keys, one he said belonged to his house, and the other to a lodging in St. Catherine's-lane. Brewer's defence. I had been two days locked up before they took the crape from my hat; and the prosecutor at first said he did not know either of the men, and took a man with a green coat on, because he said he did not know either of our faces. Doyle's defence. A man, named Farmer, asked me if I wanted a constant birth, I said I did, and he took me to Shadwell office; I staid at the White Lion while he spoke to the clerk, as he told me; he came to me, and said he had got me the birth; we had some beer, and in about five minutes the officers came in; they called Brewer by name, he got up, and they hand-cussed him; they said, young man we want you, but did not know my name; Cook said they wanted nothing with me, and I staid there till near ten o'clock; I met Brown, and said, what did you want with me; he said, nothing of no great consequence, but I want you now, and he took me; I have people to prove where I was at the same time. For the prisoner Doyle. ELIZABETH GUELCH sworn. - I have known Michael Dyle for the last six or seven months: On the Sunday after Christmas-day, he was in my company the whole day, in my apartments, No. 9, St. Catherine's, till past nine o'clock; I am sure he was not outside of the room. Cross-examined by Mr. Knapp. Q. Did you know him before that time? - A. I cannot say I did, ever to be in his company. Q. What business are you? - A. An unfortunate woman; St. Catherine's is about half a mile from Leman-street; Doyle has lived along with me three months; I did not attend at the Justices; I told he officers he was with me all day, to the best of my knowledge, but cannot be positive; I don't know how he has got his living; he went to the water-side umping, and sometimes to biscuit-baking. Q. Do you know where he came from? - A. I heard people talk; he told me he came from abroad. Q. Is there any other day you can tell me, when he was with you all day? - A. No, I cannot tell any day but that; he dined, and drank tea with me; he drank tea with me often; I know Brewer of further than seeing him in the public-house with thers; a woman drank tea with me that day. SARAH HYNDES sworn. - I know Elizabeth Guelch, and visited her on Sunday after Christmas-day; I went there about five o'clock, Michael Doyle was with her, I had often seen him; I staid there from five to nine, and I am sure he was there all the time. Cross-examined by Mr. Knapp. Q. What are you? - A. I am a poor woman, and go out a chairing, I have known Doyle about two years, he is a biscuit-baker by trade, and has lived about St. Catherine's, as far as I know; I have seen him about for the last two years; when I went there, at five o'clock, he was there. Brewer, GUILTY , Death , aged 22. Doyle, GUILTY , Death , aged 33. First Middlesex Jury, before the Lord Chief Baron.